Sahara fires up the local netbook market with latest offering

Latest in extensive range of high quality, affordable mobile solutions to meet growing user needs

Sahara Computers, global suppliers of information, communication and digital lifestyle technology, proudly announces the availability of its latest offering to the burgeoning netbook space, a growing and active market segment defined by low cost, feature-rich mobile solutions.

“Consumers have become quite used to workplace computing and are now looking at offerings at home for internet and email applications. The credit crunch has affected consumer budgets but this is where we believe the netbook offers a solution to meet their pocket,” explains Naidoo.

Netbooks, initially brought out to address the ultra low cost PC market segment, have now become fully functional mobile computing devices that can address the SOHO and education markets. It is an affordable option for education, photo and video viewing, social networking, e-mail, messaging, browsing, and numerous other Internet activities and basic applications

The incorporation of Intel® Atom™ technology ensures an easy-to-use mobile device that offers a seamless online experience.

The Sahara Imagebook, with 10.1” LCD widescreen, is powered by Intel® Atom™ technology and features 1GB memory, a 160GB hard disk drive and a built-in webcam. With models featuring built-in 3G, the Sahara Imagebook offers a complete anytime, anywhere computing experience.

The Sahara Imagebook offers the option of Ubuntu Linux or Microsoft Windows® XP Home Operating system as well as a one-year fetch and repair warranty.

“These benefits reflect Sahara’s ongoing effort to transfer the benefit of high powered, reliable, cost efficient mobile resources to a growing market place. The launch of this solution is timed well against the company’s ongoing Get IT services and support campaign, aimed at assisting the market, the channel and consumers to extract maximum benefit from technology investment,” says Naidoo.

Sahara Computers connects with Comsa

Sahara Computers, global suppliers of information, communication and digital lifestyle technology, has established a long-term alliance and formal relationship with the Communication Students Association (Comsa) with a view to providing access to technology, exposure to the possibility of workplace experience and the dynamics of trade.

The initiative was launched recently at Sahara and marked by the handing over of a Sahara mobile solution to enthusiastic members of the Comsa executive management council.

Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara, said the initiative was another very important step forward for the company and its continued support and sponsorship of education in South Africa.

“Education, incorporating training and PC literacy, remains an important market segment and area of interest for Sahara,” says Naidoo. “We are pleased to have entered into a joint initiative and partnership with this established student representative organisation and believe our early donation of a mobile solution signals our intent to fully support efforts to bridge the gap between learners and workplace opportunity.”

Bheki Mdhluli, Comsa chairperson, said the Association was established in 1993 as a structure to strengthen links between theory and practice within communication studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

“The relationship with Sahara is an ideal mechanism to expose students to the opportunities such as internship programs, mentorships and training initiatives. As we serve to assist Sahara in its brand awareness campaign in education, we also fulfil our mandate to transfer the benefits of exposure to the employment sector,” says Mdhluli.

“We are going to ensure that we include other student structures in the initiative in order to benefit many university students. This is a strategic long term relationship and we will be in discussion with management at UNISA including the head of our Department, as well as corporate communications at the institution to ensure that all stakeholders are involved and can add their input,” adds Mdhluli.

The partnership is an ongoing initiative and both parties believe there is scope for a long term relationship going forward.

The Sahara Technology show at WITS University today Outside Matrix Building, East Campus

Come and join the fun. Get an autograph by a sporting icon or Miss South Africa, Bring your PC /Laptop for a FREE Check up or get the latest deals on latest mobile & desktop technology.

Sahara chalks IT all up to experience at Unisa

Sahara Computers, a national supplier of information, communication and digital lifestyle product, has added impetus to its ongoing Get IT campaign, with a recent visit to one of the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) satellite campuses based in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

The ICT company wasted no time in setting up a two-day product and information demonstration which offered students and visitors an opportunity to view the latest available mobile and technology lifestyle solutions.

Sahara’s Technical support partner Nerds on Site was on hand to offer visitors free technical information, advise and assistance with their products and devises

“The on-site support and service team work through our established Sahara Service Camps, another very successful and key element of the Get IT campaign. The Service Camps have done exceptionally well at the tertiary institutions that we have visited to date and it is clear there is a demand for this level of interaction between the market and learners with regard to technology and how it can be best utilized on a practical, day-to-day basis,” says Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara.

Sahara Computers is an established provider of technology infrastructure to the global marketplace and has identified education as on of its core areas of interest.

The company is working with the Communications Students Association (COMSA) with regard to the possibility of further joint initiatives to bring technology into learners and drive the awareness of benefits and investment in IT infrastructure.

Valencia Nxele, who is in the process of finalizing her second year modules for Communication Science course at Unisa, believes that technology is a very good thing for students and the initiative taken by Sahara is worthwhile and of significant value.

Bheki Mdhluli, also Communications Science student, agrees: “This is a very good idea. It is valuable for the business and commercial sector to engage with us directly, not just for the sake of technology alone, but also for our career development and opportunities in the workplace.”

Naidoo adds that this initiative is an important step towards building lasting partnerships in the industry and with educators / learners in order to provide greater access to technology and also improve the understanding of what technology can do for individuals and the installation of basic education in general.

The education-focused facet of the Sahara Get IT campaign continues and will be covering a number of institutions in the Gauteng region.

Sahara Service Camp personnel and members of the Nerds On Site team assist Unisa students with their technology. The two-day initiative at the institution has been described as a great success by all involved.

Communications Sciences students Bheki Mdhluli and Valencia Nxele, visit the Sahara Computers stand to engage with the company over technology.

Company Announcement: Sahara, Wavestone Computers in distribution partnership agreement

Sahara, Wavestone Computers in distribution partnership agreement

Sahara has confirmed its appointment of Wavestone Computers as a distributor of the full range of Sahara PC infrastructure, including desktops and mobile & wireless solutions.

Wavestone Computers is a Pretoria-based supplier of ICT infrastructure sourced from a number of recognised vendors.

These globally acclaimed brands include Foxconn, Jaspa, Lexmark, Maxtor, Microsoft and Samsung. The company already enjoys a relationship with Sahara based on ongoing support for the Sahara mobile solution offering.

Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara, says the partnership is a very positive step in the company’s effort to extend is reach, particularly from a regional perspective.

“We have a very well established presence in Gauteng, and have decided to emphasise our services and offering, and add value to the channel by reinforcing support for retailers and partners in the northern regions of South Africa,” says Naidoo.

“Wavestone Computers is an experienced, established provider of PC infrastructure services and support. It enjoys a wide regional reach and we believe has the experience, knowledge and resources to assist us in growing our market share. It is also understood that the long-term agreement will benefit both parties in penetrating the market space,” he continues.

Gary Gradwell, General Manager at Wavestone Computers, is pleased to have entered into an agreement with Sahara and believes it will certainly reinforce his company’s existing service to its dealer base.

“In the last few years we have not been able to leverage off a desktop solution in terms of a branded PC. We have been in the business of white box distribution and obviously would like to transfer the benefits of warranty and technical support. The objective is to match the volume of distributed machines with the required level of technical support. This is where we expect the branded PC to make a significant difference to our reseller and dealer base,” says Gradwell.

“The choice to partner with Sahara is based on the company’s credentials as an established vendor with a proven track record in technical support and value to the channel, as well as the strength of its mobile solution offering. It was important for us to associate and partner with a local company, one that has the capacity and resources to fulfill the criteria. We believe Sahara is exactly the partner we have been looking for,” he adds.

Visit our website for more information www.sahara.co.za or www.wavestone.co.za

Sahara launches fetch, repair program

Sahara Computers has launched its recently improved Fetch and Repair warranty program.
The program represents a change to the conventional customer relationship management process that involves a customer having to return a faulty product, as an example, to the point of purchase, which is then sent directly to Sahara.

The new program is set to enable the customer to engage with the Sahara call centre to notify the company of the situation. A courier is then dispatched to collect the product and return it to Sahara after which a warranty fulfillment process is completed and the repaired/ replaced product returned to the customer.

Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara, says that the warranty service option offers numerous benefits and will be of value to both dealers and end customers alike.
“We have refined our warranty process and incorporated a strategically developed fetch and repair program. For the end customer it means that the product is picked up eliminating the need to incur transport costs, there is no third party and therefore a faster turnaround, and the product is being repaired at the company where there is a high level of expertise and resources available,” says Naidoo.

The repair warranty program emphasises the company’s ongoing focus on sales and service to leverage off opportunities within growing market segments. These include government, corporate, mobile and wireless, education and digital lifestyle.

“Essentially we have developed a system that pays dividends to everyone involved. It is designed to alleviate bottlenecks, to make processes and procedures associated with product delivery and supply expedient and hassle-free, and to add value to the end consumer via the channel.”

“Our role is to ensure that customers emerge satisfied and empowered from their experience with Sahara,” he says.

Sahara Launches Enhanced Fetch And Repair Program

Sahara has launched a recently improved Fetch & Repair warranty program – the latest in a list of sales and service-focused initiatives that fall under the company’s extensive Get IT campaign.

PRLog (Press Release) – Mar 13, 2009 – The Sahara Fetch & Repair warranty program represents a change to the conventional customer relationship management process that involves a customer having to return a faulty product, as an example, to the point of purchase, which is then sent directly to Sahara.

The new program enables the customer to engage with the Sahara call centre to notify the company of the situation. A courier is then dispatched to collect the product and return it to Sahara after which a warranty fulfillment process is completed and the repaired/ replaced product returned to the customer. Gary Naidoo, deputy MD at Sahara, says that the warranty service option offers numerous benefits and will be of value to both dealers and end customers alike. “We have refined our warranty process and incorporated a strategically developed fetch and repair program. For the end customer it means that the product is picked up eliminating the need to incur transport costs, there is no third party and therefore a faster turnaround, and the product is being repaired at the company where there is a high level of expertise and resources available,” says Naidoo.

The advantage of the program for dealerships lies in the fact that no additional resources are required for the warranty, there is peace-of-mind that the customer is being looked after professionally and expediently by the vendor, and there can be a focus on sales to boost business adds Naidoo. “Essentially we have developed a system that pays dividends to everyone involved.

It is designed to alleviate bottlenecks, to make processes and procedures associated with product delivery and supply expedient and hassle-free, and to add value to the end consumer via the channel. Our role is to ensure that customers emerge satisfied and empowered from their experience with Sahara,” he continues. The Sahara Fetch & Repair warranty program emphasises the company’s ongoing focus on sales and service to leverage off opportunities within growing market segments.

These include government, corporate, mobile & wireless, education and digital lifestyle. This focus on sales and service is spearheaded through the recent launch of the Sahara Get IT campaign, underpinned by a number of special projects and initiatives aimed at creating awareness and generating business via the formal ICT distribution and supply channel. “We are immensely proud of the campaign which will see the roll out of technology awareness and sales-focused initiatives to several key markets areas.

This is a long term project that will result in value to resellers, vendors and the end user as the sector positions itself to meet challenges amid financial pressure on global economies,” Naidoo concludes. For more information click through to www.sahara.co.za or call (011) 542-1000